0Have we only been back at school for a week? I feel like I have been on a high-speed rail train for the last couple of days. Homework, Midsummer Rehearsal, and my work schedule all picked up immediately.

Why just have three things pick up when internship deadline could be due at the same time?

This is what I think universities and jobs all asked themselves when this schedule was made. I am very excited for all of the opportunities that I am applying to because I only wanted to apply to things I was genuinely interested in.

However, worry not friends, I have come up with some great ideas to make application season, not a breeze (but manageable).

I have two different resumes (one for technical theater work and one for management). With two different fields, it is difficult to remember where I worked and what I did at each position. Currently, I have a word document that I can update that lists all of the jobs and internships that I have completed or are ongoing.

Every resume that we craft as students need to have the position, the time we spent in that role, and the duties that we completed there. Making a master document with this history makes it so much easier to craft a resume for a position. Before I lost so much time trying to remember and now I can just copy and paste the positions into a new document.

The resume is the easy part. The cover letter is a whole other beast. 

Each time I go to write a cover letter I google ‘scripps college cover letters’ to find the Scripps College Career Services Guide. Each time I have to write a cover letter, I use the cover letter in the book to guide me. I use the checklist to ensure that I do not forget anything and put my best foot forward.

Finally, the most important piece of advice that I can give. If possible, do not apply for positions that you do not want. The application process is already long enough and it will feel even longer if you attempt to sound interested in a job that sounds, for lack of a better word, hell.

You only have so much time to try out internships and jobs, do not waste that time doing things you think you have to do. Do not fill your summer with dread. Enjoy yourself.

But until then, good luck with the rest of the semester.

Spring Break is over.

We have all grudgingly made the trek back to Claremont and got out of bed on the first day of classes. Now back from break, I feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the rest of the semester: classes, life, and career.

I do not think I would feel this way if I did not do one thing during the break, which was the Networking Trek to Chicago with CP&R.

I was very conflicted as to whether I wanted to attend the trek, so I asked everyone who had a connection to these treks. Once I decided to go, I scrambled to find warm clothes for the Windy City. Flying into Chicago, I began to mentally prepare for waking up before 8am and full days of networking.

The first day, we went to three non-profit companies. We started off the day with the Goodman Theater, which was amazing to see how a theater thinks about their programs with all the Chicago communities in mind. Next, we visited National Main Street Center that helps to renovates main streets all over America and seeing one office of a company that has taken on a mission I have never even heard of. Finally, we visited the Chicago Public Library that has thoroughly ruined libraries for me. The library had all the normal aspects of a traditional library but had added on with so many different programs to aid adults, children, or teens by adding in maker labs, recording booths, and evolving with the community.

The second day, the wonderful trek coordinators (Vicki and Rachael), showed us the difference by looking at for-profit companies. First, we visited a smaller tech company called Vodori. I never imagined a for-profit company with such a small community that functioned like a non-profit with a dog-friendly office. Next, we visited bswift that had a more corporate feel, yet did not lack any of the fun. Finally, we visited Duff & Phelps, a corporate finance advisory firm, that has been making strides to make finance not seem so dominated by men. As a special treat, John Wells took us on a tour of the Chicago Hilton on Michigan Ave to show us the behind-the-scenes of the hotel industry.

On the final day, we prepared to say goodbye to the other group of Scripps students who had come on the trek by going to the Chicago Children’s Museum. After touring the museum for thirty minutes, we were able to talk to a panel that showed just how much work goes into this amazing museum.

This was a quick recap of the events since it was a whirlwind of networking that I would not have traded. From each company, I learned something completely different about myself. I could imagine myself in small and large companies, clarified what it meant for a company to be a non-profit, and how to advocate for myself. The panels that we met with at each company were filled with individuals who really cared and wanted to answer all our questions. It is crazy to see so many in love with their careers. Everyone we met wanted to answer our questions and tell us about careers that we had never heard of before. Everything was so exciting and had me ready to investigate more!

Besides the companies, the trek had time for us to explore Chicago. We took time to go out for sushi on our last night, where the rice was dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day. The city was filled with nice people and cold weather. This trek put Chicago on the list of places I am going to investigate for careers after college since the innovative attitude that seemed to flood the streets really spoke to me.

If anyone is ever wondering about the CP&R treks, don’t think and just apply. I grew close to students that I would never have had the opportunity to interact with on campus and have acquired a wider network of people that I can reach out to about my career. I was given the chance to expand my skills in networking and still gave me the chance to spend the last half of break not focusing on anything in Death Valley.

As I write this, spring break is a mere 3 days away. I can feel the break from classes and the lack of rehearsal every single night. It’ll be bliss not having to go to class every day, but careers wait for no one. As much as I want to kick back and not doing any work by a pool somewhere, I will be doing as much work as possible.

Here’s how to make the most of your spring break (or my way at least)

1. Plan out time to work on applications

It is insanely difficult to find time during the school week to work on school work, hang out with friends, and apply for summer opportunities. During spring break is the perfect time to worry less about school work and take some time to finish those applications. Dedicate some mornings or afternoons to filling out a certain amount of applications before you can do anything else.

2. Update your LinkedIn profile

So many employers have asked me to paste my LinkedIn profile link on my application. This online profile carries weight when employers want to see who you know and what experience you have. Make sure it is up-to-date and offering the best of you.

3. Get some Homework out of the way

Have an essay coming up or presentation right after spring break. Spend a little time prepping those assignments and maybe even finishing them. Some of my spring break will be spent doing homework, so when I come back I can make meetings with my professors about concepts I do not understand or to proudly turn in a finished assignment. With my busy schedule during homework for a week or two in advance is rewarding with more sleep or fun.

4. Check out that 4-Year Plan

Graduating and moving on from Scripps is a big goal for any Scrippsie. One thing that could be holding you back is GEs and credits. Take a look at that four-year plan (or make one if you do not have one). Make sure you are on track to graduate. How many credits do you still need? What GEs could be double-counted? When will you take your major classes, while fitting in some really interesting courses? It’s better to do it for a couple of hours during spring break than to be blindsided later on.

5. Revamp your organizational habits

Did you feel really stressed during midterms? Not just the regular stresses that come with trying to pass and cram knowledge into your brain. Is there something that you wished that you would have done to make your school life smoother? Take the time over break to reflect on what worked with your organizational system and what could have gone better. Why push those new school year resolutions to next year when you have after spring break to implement new strategies?

6. Kick Back

Spring Break is just that A BREAK!!! The suggestions that I have listed before are great, but you have kicked butt for the first half of the semester. You deserve a break. Do not let the entire break go by without taking time for yourself. Go camping with friends. Watch whatever show you have been meaning to binge. Do whatever makes you happy and gives you a chance to unwind from the stress of labs, tests, and applications. 

I am an extracurricular queen. Don’t get me wrong; I love being in the classroom and learning from the professor. However, I thrive off of the other experience I get through clubs and volunteering. I will throw in a couple clubs here, a couple meetings there, and to top it all off a work shift down at the theatre for kicks.This does cause a lot of stress from overloading my schedule and not leaving enough time for leisure, but IT IS SO MUCH FUN!

I have done so many extracurricular clubs and activities such as yearbook, theatre, track and field, choir, Black student unions, and student government. Usually, I will sign up for anything that seems remotely interesting to me or will go out and search for clubs that cater to my interests.

Some things stick and others you just have to gracefully bow out of. The things that have stuck with me the longest are Theatre and the Black student unions. As one of my majors, Theatre has become such an integral part of who I am and has shaped my entire career plan. I know that I would never want to just sit behind a desk, but want a workspace where everyone can be authentically themselves and problem-solving ideas are welcomed.

From all the activities I’ve participated in, I have felt such a strong connection with the ones that enforce collaboration among a team. Also, I want spaces that celebrate the differences within the team and people’s backgrounds are embraced so no one is hiding or ashamed of defining aspects of themselves.

As much as I would caution every individual to consult their Google calendars before signing on to more; I know how enticing it is to want to join something you are truly passionate about. Classes and professors are great, but there comes a point where the classroom is constraining. Clubs and volunteering help you envision yourself in many different work environments and as a student leader, you can craft the spaces you are in. What to change up how to run a club meeting, DO IT. Want to learn something completely new like comics or films, search for a club. You just the community would be awesome, just sign up.

Extracurriculars are super important and not just ways to fill applications. They can seriously help to craft what kind of working individual that you want to be when you are older. I have known forever that whatever I do after college, I want the same feeling I get every day at rehearsal to be there when I am on the job.

JOIN CLUBS and ORGANIZATIONS! It is never too late to change your mind and do something new with your free time, You never know how much it can shape your career or life in general. As long as you are happy with what you devote time to at the end of the day, it is all good

Here goes my third blog post for CP&R…

I was not sure how I would like blogging, but it has been pretty fun coming up with titles and content every week. However, weekly blogging does have a downside sometimes. As CP&R bloggers, each member of the team puts out a post every week surrounding our career paths. It is really easy to write about the trajectory of your career when you are actively trying every week. Each member wants to write a great post that is relatable and demonstrates what we are doing in our own lives to get through college and into a career.

This week began with me looking through various internship fields and realizing I did not have the qualifications necessary to even apply for these internships. I want to just apply and sell myself later, but it is really hard to even think that you would be on the radar of some of these companies. For example, some employers ask for you to have knowledge of so many programs that are inaccessible to low-income students. I am striving to keep my head above water, so learning extra programs or too much above my workload will not happen.

After that, I felt disheartened about even looking for internships that I wanted. So when it came to brainstorming for this post, I couldn’t help feel embarrassed that I have done nothing to help my career journey within this week leaving my blog post empty.

So how do I escape the prison of writers block? My solution is to talk to people.

Once I talked to some of my friends, I realized I have nothing to ashamed about. No college student goes above and beyond every week for their future. It is ok (in fact wise) to stop and focus on things like your health, friendships, or family and let the exact steps for your career are not be the first priority sometimes. I am not saying that steps towards a career are not important, but they do not need to be something that overpowers everything else in your life.

Sometimes life gets stressful and throws you every curveball possible. Feeling overwhelmed and taking the time to sort things out is valid. I have learned that I need to begin being ok with the choices I make and that I cannot do everything all at once. 

My advice when you’re feeling overwhlemed? Think about your priorities for the day or week and focus on that. Everything does not have to be done right now. Prioritize what is needed for you at that moment. There are no linear path to success. Work on being patient with yourself this week and slowly integrate aspects of your life that you feel you are slacking on next week.

Self-care is way more important than burnout.

What are some concrete things you can do today to move toward the life you want?